cupies, the north half
of section twenty, township twenty-five, range two, and erected
all of the buildings on the place. No finer farm property is to be
found in this part of Nebraska.
Mr. Lederer was married November 27, 1873, to
Miss Mary Brubaker, of Whiteside county, Illinois, whose parents,
Daniel and Annie (Meyers) Brubaker, came from Franklin county,
Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Lederer are the parents of eight
children, named as follows: Louis Henry, Charles Marion, Noah
Webster, John Martin, Cleo, George W., Walter Scott, and Ruth
Mary. Some of the children are married, and have presented the old
people eight grandchildren.
Mr. Lederer votes the republican ticket, and was
reared in the Lutheran faith.

CHRISTIAN
NELSEN.

Christian
Nelsen, a well-to-do agriculturalist and business man of Howard
county and owner of a valuable estate in Loup Fork precinct, is a
son of Nels and Mariane Envoldsen, whose life histories are
recorded in this volume on another page. He was born in Denmark in
1870, and was about two years of age when his parents emigrated to
America.
Mr. Nelsen grew up in Howard county, Nebraska,
as a mere boy taking a man's place in helping his father carry on
the home farm. In 1893 he struck out on his own hook, purchasing a
tract of land containing eighty acres, situated on section
twenty-four, township thirteen, range twelve, which he put in good
shape and carried on for three years. He erected substantial
buildings and engaged in mixed farming and stock raising, and then
sold out at a profit. About 1897 he moved to Boelus and engaged in
the livery business. He put forth every effort in building up a
trade, had first class rigs, was ever trying to please the public
and give them the best service possible to be had, and ran the
barn successfully for about three years, at which time he was
appointed manager of the T. B. Hord Grain and Elevator Company in
Boelus. In this capacity owing to his energy and good business
ability he has gained the entire confidence of his employers and
continues in the work at the present time, proving a most
efficient and reliable man for the place, whose services are
greatly appreciated by the company.
Mr. Nelsen was married in August, 1905, to Mary
Rasmussen, of Howard county. Mrs. Nelsen had been a popular
teacher in the public schools of Nebraska for six years prior to
her marriage, and is an accomplished and charming young woman.
They have one child, Christian Adelbert, who is a bright and
promising youngster, the pride of his parents' hearts.
Our subject is a young man of promise, and in
the various enterprises in which he has engaged, has met with
merited success. He is owner of a handsome residence property in
Boelus, also owns a fine quarter section of land in Sherman
county.

EDWARD FAGEN.

Edward
Fagen is one of the few original homesteaders of Sherman county
who still resides on their original homestead farms. He was born
in Dubuque, Iowa, April 3, 1852, fifth of the eight children born
to Edward and Mary (O'Rourke) Fagen, who were parents of five sons
and three daughters. When Edward Fagen was six months old his
parents located on a farm where he was reared and remained until
his twenty-fourth year, receiving his education in the local
schools. He then moved to Harrison county, in western Iowa, rented
a farm and engaged in farming on his own account. He may be said
to be a self-made man, as at the time he left home he had but
fifty dollars in cash, but was possessed of energy and ambition
and also a determination to improve his condition.
On February 2, 1880, Mr. Fagen was united in
marriage with Miss Mary McDowell, the eldest of the eight children
of Barney and Mary (Hughes) McDowell, then living in Harrison
county, Iowa. In the fall of 1883 Mr. Fagen made a trip from
Harrison county, Iowa, to Sherman county, Nebraska, where he took
up his present homestead on section seven, township sixteen, range
sixteen, then returned to his home in Iowa. The following spring
he made the trip to his new home with teams and wagons, taking his
household goods and driving cattle to the homestead, the trip
lasting about ten days. His wife and their two children, Agnes and
Minnie, came by railroad to Grand Island, Nebraska, and thence by
team to the new farm. In that day Grand Island was the trading
point for a large territory in the surrounding country and was a
busy, thriving town. The Fagens were among the early settlers of
Sherman county and passed through years of privation and struggle
against pioneer hardships and discouragements. Mr. Fagen became
one of the most successful farmers and stockmen of his part of the
state and now owns the east half of section seven, where he has a
comfortable home and a well equipped farm. In a quiet, unassuming
way he has assisted in the advancement and progress of central
Nebraska and has many close friends there. His is a representative
family and they have at heart the best interests of the
community.
Six children have been born to Mr. Fagen and
wife, of whom five now survive, namely: Agnes, wife of Alfred
Anderson, of Fremont, Nebraska, has one child; Minnie, wife of
Theodore Guyon, of Fremont, also has one child; Vincent, at home;
Katie married Thomas Murrey, and they live in Custer county;
Elizabeth, deceased; Edward, at home.

508

COMPENDIUM OF
HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

Mr.
Fagen is independent in politics, voting for the man irrespective
of party. With his family he is a member of the Catholic
church.
When the blizzard of January 12, 1888, struck,
Mr. Fagen was riding to Arcadia with a neighbor. As soon as the
storm abated he started back on foot, reaching home about
daylight, braving the bitter cold to be assured that his family
was not suffering. Mrs. Fagen, when the storm came on, turned the
cattle out of the pen coralls [sic] that they might find
shelter behind the stacks and brought in corn enough to burn and
keep them warm through the night.

JACOB MULLER.

Among
those who have contributed largely to the prosperity of Madison
county, Nebraska, and whose patient industry and well directed
energy have brought individual competence, may be mentioned Jacob
Muller, whose fine farm lies in section six, township
twenty-three, range three, where he has built up a pleasant,
comfortable home, and enjoys the respect and esteem of a large
circle of friends.
Mr. Muller is a native of Hamburg, Germany,
where he was born in October, 1856, a son of Henry and Lizzie
Muller, both natives of the German Empire, who died when our
subject was but a small boy. Mr. Muller grew to his manhood days
in his native land, receiving the usual schooling, and working on
farms and after attaining the proper age was drafted into the
army, serving three years as a soldier of the German Empire.
In 1887, Mr. Muller left his fatherland for
America, the new world of which he had heard so much; he embarked
on the steamship "Hapsburg," sailing from Bremen, and landed in
New York after a voyage of twelve days. After reaching the United
States, he immediately started for the west, locating in Saline
county, Missouri, which was his home for five years.
In 1892, Mr. Muller came to Madison county,
Nebraska, where he bought the Joe Hurd homestead; on this land he
first built a shanty, living in this a few years, when a fine new
residence replaced the original dwelling. Although not as old a
settler in point of time as some, of the inhabitants of this
region, Mr. Muller has proven himself a worthy and progressive
citizen in his eighteen years or more of residence here. He has
made rapid improvements on his property and now owns a good farm
and home where he and his family enjoy the respect and esteem of
all who know them, and in their home are surrounded by a large
circle of friends and acquaintances.
Mr. Muller was united in marriage to Miss Anna
Buck, in June, 1888; Miss Buck was a native of Hanover Province,
Germany, and a daughter of John and Margurete Buck, also natives
of Hanover Province. Mr. and Mrs. Muller are the parents of five
children ,whose names are as follows: Maggie, Lizzie, Annie,
Martha, and Elmer.

SAMUEL M.
LUCE.

Samuel M.
Luce is a citizen who is much interested in everything pertaining
to the welfare and progress of Custer county and Nebraska, and has
been a resident of the state about thirty years. He is a native of
Maine, born near Bangor, March 25, 1850, sixth born of the eight
children of William and Hulda (Rogers) Luce, the father a native
of Maine and the mother of Massachusetts. Both parents died in
Iowa, the father about 1871 and the mother in 1870. Four of the
sons served in the civil war, but in different regiments, all from
Illinois: William S., in the Ninth Cavalry, Alonzo in the
Nineteenth Infantry, Richard in the Ninety-third Infantry and
Isaac in the One Hundred and Twelfth Infantry. The children now
surviving are: two sons in Clarke county, Iowa; one son in Iola,
Kansas; one daughter in Oklahoma, and Samuel M., of this
article.
In 1854, when about four years of age, Mr. Luce
accompanied his parents to Grand Prairie. Stark county, Illinois,
and there he received most of his education. In 1866 the family
moved to Clarke county, Iowa, where Samuel completed his education
and then engaged in farming on his own account. He was married
near Leslie, Clarke county, February 28, 1872, at the home of her
parents, to Miss Mary V. Perry, a native of Illinois. Her father,
Zachariah Perry, was a native of Kentucky, moved to Illinois
before his marriage, and in 1882 took a homestead in Custer
county, where he died in 1893. The mother, whose maiden name was
Sarah Keedy, was born in Illinois and died in Custer county in
1892. Mrs. Luce has a brother, Elijah, living two miles east of
Merna, Custer county; her brother, Robert,, lives in Broken Bow,
where he has it plumbing business, and another brother, Charles
Rufus lives near the Luce homestead, three miles southwest of
Merna.
Mr. and Mrs. Luce made their first home on the
Iowa farm and lived there until the spring of 1882, when they came
to Nebraska, spending one year in Nuckolls county, although during
that spring Mr. Luce had come on to Custer county and secured a
homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section six, township
seventeen, range twenty-one, where he located in 1883, and which
was his home until he retired from active life. He also secured at
timber claim in section eleven, township seventeen, range
twenty-two. He brought his place to a high state of improvement,
devoting it to grain and stock farming, and now owns there hundred
and twenty acres of well improved and equipped land,

COMPENDIUM OF
HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

509

part of it being his
original homestead. He is much interested in local affairs and was
instrumental in organizing school district number sixteen, helping
to erect the little sod house. He served many years on the school
board and was road supervisor eight years. He is well and
favorably known in the county, in many circles, and identified
with the movements for the development and upbuilding of the
region. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen, the Modern
Brotherhood, Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, being active in all these
orders. In January, 1906, he retired from farm work, erecting a
handsome residence in Merna, the present home. For sixteen years
he conducted a threshing machine, but in 1887 his left hand was
caught in the machinery and taken off.
Mr. and Mrs. Luce have had seven children: Sarah
F., wife of Benjamin Browning, of Merna, has two sons; Elijah L.,
married and living twelve miles west of Merna, has two sons;
Nancy, wife of Del Jones, of Merna, has five sons; LeRoy L.,
married and living in Merna, has two children; John W., married
and living at Ulysses, Nebraska; Charles W., whose wife died in
May, 1909, has two children; Bessie, married Orvil Burton and they
live on her father's original homestead.

C. O. SELLON.

In
compiling it list of the citizens of Wayne county, Nebraska, who
have become identified with the development of the agricultural
and live stock interests of that region, a place must be accorded
the name of the above mentioned gentleman, who is the owner of a
valuable estate located in section sixteen, township twenty-seven,
range one. He has there a comfortable home, and has gathered about
him the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, and is reaping
the reward of his years of hard work.
Mr. Sellon was born in 1864, in the state of
Iowa. His parents, William and Theresa Sellon, are of English
descent, the family having come to this country at a very early
date. C. O. Sellon spent his childhood and early years in his
native state, which was then regarded as being on the
frontier.
In 1884, Mr. Sellon came to Wayne county and
worked on various farms until 1891, when he purchased his present
farm, and this estate has been his home ever since. The subscriber
has met some of the usual reverses encountered by the settlers,
but he is a man of great energy and has prospered through his
persistent efforts. Since his possession, he has added many
improvements to the estate which have greatly enhanced its value,
the place being wild prairie at the time of purchase. For many
years, he has given considerable time and attention to cattle,
hogs, and sheep, and has met with great success.
Mr. Sellon was married, in 1888, to Miss Maggie
McNeill, of Cedar county, but born in eastern Iowa, and ten
children have been born to them: Harry, Roy, Vernie, Ray, Gail,
Mark, Ora, Arthur, May and Elsie.
Mr. Sellon has always taken an active interest
in till public affairs and has materially aided the development
and upbuilding of the communtiy [sic].

M. PATTERSON.

In
reviewing the life history of this gentle man, we find him to be
one of the oldest men of his locality, as well as among the very
earliest pioneers of middle Nebraska. Mr. Patterson has seen all
the wonderful changes incident to the development and progress of
a country blessed with more than the usual amount of natural
resources, and in this advancement he has himself been no small
factor.
Mr. Patterson was born in Tompkins county, New
York state on January 4, 1834, and grew to the age of six years in
that vicinity, then his parents moved to Wisconsin, where he
received his education and at the age of twenty started out for
himself, doing government surveying in Minnesota. In 1858 he went
to Colorado in search of gold, and spent two years in the west,
then returned to Minnesota and arrived home just in time to cast
his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for president. At the first
call for volunteers by his country, he enlisted and had the honor
to be the first man to put his name on the roll as ready for
service in the army. He remained with his company for about
eighteen months, then received an honorable discharge and went to
Wisconsin where he began farming and was married there on February
23, 1865, to Miss Cynthia Smith, of that state. In 1871 he came
into Nebraska, settling on a homestead in Boone county and
succeeded in building up a good farm, passing through all the
pioneer experiences of those days, finally retiring from
agricultural pursuits in the fall of 1879, at that time locating
in Genoa. He remained there for eight years. His next location was
in Central City, where he served as county surveyor and city
engineer for four years, then went to Boone county and was county
surveyor there for a number of years. In 1900 he removed with his
family to Genoa, and has made that his home since that time.
The Patterson family are widely and favorably
known throughout Nance county as being among the prominent
pioneers of the region. Mr. Patterson is well-to-do, having
accumulated a valuable property by dint of thrift and good
business ability, and he also takes an active interest in the
commercial and political life of his county and state.

510

COMPENDIUM OF
HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

JOSEPH J.
WALKER.

Joseph J. Walker is a gentleman of active
public spirit and sterling character, who has taken all active
part in the upbuilding of the region where he chose his home many
years ago. For many years he has been associated with the
agricultural and other best interests of Boyd county, Nebraska,
where he now resides on section thirty-one, township thirty-five,
range twelve, highly respected and esteemed by all with whom he
has had to do.
Mr. Walker was born in 1858, in Grant
county, Wisconsin, a son of Jonathan and Louisa (Eldridge) Walker,
who were natives of New York state. Our subject's father served in
the civil war, enlisting in a Wisconsin volunteer infantry
regiment, and saw duty all through the war. He served under
General Sherman and was with him on the memorable march to the
sea. After the war, Jonathan Walker continued to reside in Grant
county, Wisconsin, and lives there at the present time. Our
subject's mother died there in 1876.
In 1884, Joseph J. Walker and family
moved from Wisconsin to Moody county, South Dakota, where they
remained three years, then going to Sioux county, Iowa, living
there six years.
In 1890, Mr. Walker, our subject, and
family, drove from Sioux county, Iowa, to Boyd county, Nebraska,
where he took up a homestead five miles west and two miles north
of Butte, which he improved and on which he built a frame house.
He remained here until 1904. He then sold, and bought the Sid
Smith homestead, and now owns two hundred and forty acres of good
land, and also has ten acres of natural forest trees along the
creek.
September 2, 1880, Mr. Walker was united
in marriage to Miss Rosa Gratz, and Mr. and Mrs. Walker are the
parents of nine children, whose names are as follows: William J.,
Anna E., Stella E., Rosa E., Mabel L., Clayton J., Howard C.,
Arlie 0. and Drusilla T.
Mr. Walker has had his experiences and
hardships of Nebraska frontier life, but these events have passed
into history, and he now enjoys the prosperity that has come to
the faithful who have stuck through thick and thin.

FREDERICK RABELER,
Sr.

Frederick Rabeler, senior, was born in
Germany, June 8, 1841. He came to America in August, 1882, first
locating in Platte county, Nebraska, where he remained about six
months, and from there moving to Stanton county. Mr. Rabeler was
the third child in the family of Frederick and Anna Rabeler, who
had one son and three daughters.
Mr. Rabeler was married in Germany to
Miss Margaret Putensen, May 1, 1869, and at the time of emigrating
to America, there were in the family himself, wife and six
children. They now have seven children, whose names are as
follows: Frederick H., married and living in Leigh, Nebraska, who
is mentioned at length in this biographical writing; Alwine,
married to Carl Mullenhoff, they having five children and residing
in Colfax county; Marie, wife of Ed. Wurdeman, has three children,
and lives in Leigh, Nebraska; Henry, married and living in Stanton
county on the home farm; Freida, wife of Oliver Oleson, lives in
Platte county, Nebraska, they having five children; Paulina, who
was born in Stanton county, Nebraska, is the wife of Clarence
Oleson, has two children and lives in Platte county, and Alex,
also born in Stanton county, where he is residing at the present
time.
Mr. Rabeler upon coming to Nebraska
purchased six hundred and forty acres of land in Stanton county,
where he now owns sixteen hundred acres, and one hundred and sixty
acres in Platte county. He has been all active and progressive man
of affairs and is one of the prominent farmers and stockmen of
this portion of Nebraska. He has passed through the adverse years
of this portion of Nebraska, and assisted in building up this
section of the state. He and his family are widely and favorably
known, and have had much to do with the affairs of their
community. Mr. Rabeler now resides in Leigh, Nebraska, where he
came to live in 1900, and is vice president of the First National
bank of that place.
Frederick P. H. Rabeler, junior, was born
in Germany, December 28, 1872, coming to America with his father
and family in August of 1882, when the family located in Stanton
county, Nebraska. Here our subject grew up on the farm, and in
connection with his schooling in Germany, received the usual
school advantages. In 1901, Mr. Rabeler went out in life for
himself, becoming connected with the Farmers and Merchants Bank of
Leigh, Nebraska, in June of 1903. This bank has been merged into
the First National Bank with a capital of fifty thousand dollars.
The Farmer's and Merchant's Bank was first organized in 1886. In
May of 1910, the Farmers' & Merchants' Bank of Leigh, and the
Maple Valley State Bank of Leigh, Nebraska, were consolidated into
the First National Bank, with the following officers: Thomas
Mortimer, president; J. H. Wurderman, vice president; F. Rabeler,
senior, second vice president; F. Rabeler, junior, cashier; R. J.
McNary, assistant cashier, and J. E. Spofford, assistant
cashier.
Mr. Rabeler, junior, was married to Miss
Florence Bowers, June 3, 1908, in Omaha, Nebraska. Mrs. Rabeler is
a native of Colfax county, and the Bowers family is one of the
first pioneer families of Colfax county. Mr. and Mrs. Rabeler have
two children, Florence Margaret and an infant.
Mr. Rabeler is one of the prominent young
business men of Leigh, Nebraska, where he is prominent in business
and social circles.

COMPENDIUM OF
HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

511

N. P.
JOHNSON.

The gentleman mentioned above is one of the
sturdy sons of Sweden, who came to the new world with a brave
heart to carve out a name for himself and establish a home in the
west, and well has he succeeded in his determination, now being
proprietor of a good ranch, and has also become one of the
prominent citizens of his locality. He resides on section
twenty-four, township twenty-five, range eight, Clearwater
township, Antelope county, where he owns a good farm of five
hundred and twenty acres, making a fine home.
Mr. Johnson is a native of Skone, Sweden,
born April 8, 1861, and is the son of Olaf and Helen (Pierson)
Johnson; both natives of Sweden; the father is still living at
Elgin, and enjoys the ripe age of seventy-six years. In 1880 our
subject and his father came to America, sailing on the White Star
Line steamship from Liverpool, landing in New York City, August
23, 1880. After reaching New York they started at once for the
west. Mr. Johnson, out, subject, went to Kansas City to procure
work, he being then full grown to manhood, and able to care for
himself. He worked as a laborer in Kansas City for eight years,
saving enough money to enable him to come to Antelope county,
Nebraska, and start farming. In 1900, he bought it farm of three
hundred and sixty acres, and here he has built up a beautiful home
for his family, he having married while residing in Kansas
City.
Mr. Johnson was married April 5, 1884, to
Miss Elise Akstrom, a native of Skone, Sweden, and a daughter of
John and Johannah (Pierson) Akstrom. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the
parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Roy; Almer;
Oscar; Esther; Mabel; and Mildred.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and family are held
in high regard in their community, and Mr. Johnson is prominently
known as a most estimable and upright citizen.

MACK C.
WARRINGTON.

Mack C. Warrington is numbered among
the pioneers of Custer county, Nebraska, and has always been ready
to do his part to advance the general welfare and prosperity. He
was born at Guthrie Center, Iowa, October 29, 1864, a son of
William and Julia (Cooper) Warrington, and fourth of their six
children. The father, a native of Yorkshire, England, came to
America about 1852 and located at Hartford, Connecticut. He died
at Guthrie Center, July 31, 1907. The, mother, a native of
Tipperary, Ireland, came to America in 1848 and died in Guthrie
Center in 1901. They were pioneers of Iowa and erected the first
house in the town where both died. Of their children, one son,
Bert, lives in Iowa; a daughter, Mrs. Ann Holster, lives in Mason
City, Nebraska; another daughter, Mrs. T. J. Campbell, lives in
Colorado; Mack C. is given further mention below, and two are
deceased.
Mack C. Warrington reached manhood in his
native state, receiving his elementary education in local schools.
Later he attended Cornell college, at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and after
leaving school he learned the printers' trade. In August, 1886, he
located at Mason City, Nebraska, becoming a member of the staff of
the first paper published there, the Mason City Transcript. He
became proprietor of this periodical in 1887, and has since edited
it under the original name. It is an organ of the democratic party
and widely read throughout Custer county. Mr. Warrington is a
wide-awake, enterprising man, and regarded as an upright, useful
citizen. He helped to organize the village and the school
district; served eleven years on the school board, some time as
chairman of the town board, and during Cleveland's administration
served as postmaster. He is now serving as justice of the peace.
He is well known in fraternal circles as a charter member of the
local Masonic order and as one of the organizers, and also belongs
to the local camp of Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Warrington was married at Broken Bow,
October 4, 1893, to Miss Mena Mengel, who was born in Springfield,
Illinois, where her childhood was spent. They are well known
socially and have a wide circle of friends. Mr. Warrington erected
their present comfortable home in 1898.

ALEXANDER
MATHESON.

It has been said with truth, that
"America is the melting pot of the nations," and the same can be
said of almost any state in the Union. It applies to Nebraska,
most certainly, for although all of the early settlers are
Americans now, yet in many instances, they were born under other
colors than the stars and stripes, and even if American born
themselves, one generation back, or at the most, two, will almost
invariably take us across the water to the Old World.
Alexander Matheson, one of the most
prominent retired farmers of Stanton county, was born in Walworth
county, Wisconsin, March 8, 1848, but his parents, Murdoch and
Eliza (McKenzie) Matheson, were natives of the Scottish Highlands,
near Loch Elsie. His grandsire, John Matheson, died in "bonnie
Scotland," but the grandmother, Jessie McRae Matheson, then joined
her son's family in Wisconsin, where she lived to an advanced
age.
Alexander Matheson grew up on the
Wisconsin farm, and in 1867 started out for himself, working as a
farm hand in Stark and Henry counties, Illinois. In 1869, he made
his first trip to Nebraska, and purchased half of section eight,
township twenty-four, range four, in Cuming county, and then
returned to Illinois. He retained possession of this land until
about 1878, when he

512

COMPENDIUM OF
HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

sold it at a price
which is about one-tenth of its present value.
In the fall of 1869, Mr. Matheson went to South
America to work on a sugar plantation of a thousand acres near
Georgetown, in British Guiana. The climate was very unhealthy and
he returned to Illinois in the following spring. In the fall, he
filed claim on a homestead in section nineteen, township
twenty-four, range three, in Stanton county, on what is known as
the upper Humbug Creek. He lived here for one year, in a small
dugout with a neighbor, but later built a slab shanty.
In December, 1872, he rented this farm and went
back to Illinois, where he worked at farm labor for a time, then
farmed on rented land for himself for three years, making his home
meanwhile with a very wealthy farmer, whose lack of education
enabled Mr. Matheson to assist him very materially in the keeping
of accounts, etc. Mr. Matheson's third trip to Nebraska was made
in 1878, when he rented the Captain Butler farm near Pilger for
some time.
In the spring of 1880, he realized the need of a
helpmate and returned to Illinois, where he was married at Elmira,
Stark county, to Miss Mary M. Oliver, a daughter of Thomas and
Jean Oliver, natives of the Scottish Lowlands.
As soon as Mr. Matheson came to Nebraska with
his bride, he at once took steps to improve his homestead by
erecting a comfortable house, barns and outbuildings, planting
orchards and groves, and cultivating the land. he finally
developed as fine a farm as call be found in the county. In 1893,
he rented the farm, coming to town to live, but in three years was
again back on the farm. He sold it, however, in October, 1909, and
decided to locate permanently in town, and is now enjoying his
ease in a comfortable home in the west part of Stanton.
All of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs.
Matheson are living. They have all received a good education, the
younger ones being still in school, and all are destined to take a
prominent part in social and educational affairs. Jennie, Mary
Luella and Barbara graduated from the Wayne normal college and are
successful teachers. Earl has taught for some time and is now
studying in the state university at Lincoln. Another daughter,
Zula Elzora, is also teaching, and the other children, Oliver,
Maude, Donald and Lola are attending the schools in Stanton.
Originally, Mr. Matheson was a democrat, but he
joined the populists in their reform movements and at present is
ail independent, voting for the man whom he thinks is best
qualified for the office, regardless of party affiliations.
Mr. Matheson was away from the state for a
considerable length of time after first taking up a claim, and has
consequently escaped some of the hardships of the early settler's
life, yet he took up his residence here early enough to suffer
some of them. He was away during the years of the grasshopper
plague, but was living in the state during some of the worst
blizzards.
He has been a farmer all of his life, and now,
having won a competence from the soil, is enjoying the fruits of a
life-time of industry and thrift, surrounding himself and family
with all the comforts heart could wish. A picture of the family
and residence is presented on another page of this volume.

Residence and Family
Group -- Alex. Matheson.

DR. W. T.
KILE.

Dr. Kile
first saw northeastern Nebraska in the fall of 1883 when he came
to the region of Plainview with his father, Ransom Kile, to select
tract of land. The father, Ransom Kile, purchased the
relinquishment to a quarter section, in Antelope county, four
miles west of Plainview, and filed on it under the homestead law,
taking possession in the spring of 1884. Here he prospered and
resided until 1900, when he bought a residence in Plainview and
moved to town. In the fall of 1909, he rented his house and has
since made his home with a son in Creighton.
Ransom Kile was a native of Knox county, Ohio,
moving thence to Lake county, Indiana, not far from Chicago, and
in 1879 secured a farm in Cass county, Iowa, where he resided
until moving to Nebraska in 1884. He was married in Lake county to
Miss Mary Powers, a native of Providence, Rhode Island, her
parents moving to Lake county while she was a small child. She
died on the home farm in Antelope county, Nebraska, in 1897.
Doctor W. T. Kile was born in Lake county,
Indiana, August 18, 1857, and lived on a farm there and in Cass
county, Iowa, until attaining his majority. He taught school, and
read medicine with Doctor Wilder of Atlantic, Iowa, until entering
the medical department of the State University at Iowa City, from
which he graduated in 1885. On receiving his diploma, he formed a
partnership with his old preceptor, and for seven years was
engaged in practice at Atlantic and vicinity. In 1889 he removed
to Plainview, opened an office here, and was at once recognized as
a physician of more than usual skill. He soon built up a large
practice and has sustained his excellent reputation as a healer.
In the fall of 1909 he discontinued his practice, moved to a farm
he had purchased in Knox county, and endeavored to get some
respite from his arduous labors in the profession; but the social
and educational privileges were not such as his family had been
accustomed to, so three months later he returned to Plainview and
at once resumed his practice, much to the satisfaction of his old
patrons and friends.
Doctor Kile was married at Council Bluffs, Iowa,
April 28,1890, to Miss Amy D. Halsey, who was born in Genesee
county, New York. She is a daughter of George W. and Thankful
(Wil-

COMPENDIUM OF
HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

513

cox) Halsey, both born
in the state of New York, whence they removed to Cass county,
Iowa, about 1870.
Of the children born to Doctor and Mrs. Kile
seven are living, named as follows: Mary, Ruth, Esther, William,
Martha, Kenneth and Dwight, Grace and Miriam, the fourth and
seventh children have passed away.
Doctor Kile is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church, and of the Masonic Order, the Odd Fellows, the
Woodmen, the Workmen, and others. In politics he is a republican
on national questions, and independent in local contests, voting
for whom he considers the best man regardless of political
affiliations.
Doctor Kile was living in Iowa at the time of
the well known blizzard of January 12, 1888; but in that of
January 28, 1909, he had several hours' struggle in getting to
shelter; so bad was the storm, blinding the horses and at times
stopping them, that the doctor and his driver were nearly two
hours making the mile and a half to a dwelling, the nearest to
them when the storm -broke. No one who has not encountered or
witnessed a western blizzard has any conception of what such a
storm really is.
Doctor Kile is a genial, courteous gentleman,
one who wins and holds the confidence of those whom illness throws
into his keeping, and this is half the secret of his
success.

FARMER W.
CREW.

Farmer W.
Crew, a pioneer real estate man of Howard county, Nebraska, was
born in Belmont county, Ohio, December 28, 1847. He was a son of
Acquilla and Rachel (Farmer) Crew, the former born in Belmont
county and the latter in Jefferson county, Ohio. In religious
views both parents were Quakers. They were married in Ohio and
their children were all born in Belmont county where the father
owned and operated a farm. This continued to be the family home
until 1863 when Acquilla Crew sold and removed with his family to
Linn county, Iowa, and there purchased a farm where he and his
wife resided until their deaths.
Farmer W., was the fifth child in a family of
eleven, of whom three brothers and two sisters are still living.
He received his education principally in the common and Quaker
schools of Ohio and when sixteen years of age accompanied his
parents to Linn county, Iowa.
On November 20, 1867, Mr. Crew was united in
marriage to Carrie E. Force, daughter of Captain Jacob A. Force,
at the latter's home in Linn county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Crew
continued to reside in Linn county until 1873 when they came to
Howard county, Nebraska. The first two years here Mr. Crew
followed farming, living near St. Paul.
In 1875 he was elected sheriff of Howard county
on the republican ticket, and held that office for six years, he
being the second man to serve in that capacity in the county.
During his service he met with many difficult and trying events.
In those days it took more than ordinary nerve and bravery to
successfully fill the office, as well as tact and good judgement,
in none of which Mr. Crew was lacking. One instance in particular
was when in connection with the sheriff of Hall county he
accomplished the arrest of the famous outlaw, Doc Middleton, who
with a gang of cattle rustlers and thieves had for some time been
terrorizing the western states, and after a desperate battle
between the outlaw and officers was finally captured and placed
under arrest.
After his term as sheriff had expired Mr. Crew
was in the United States government service, acting as Deputy
United States Marshall for three years and also was a revenue
officer for two years, during the latter time being stationed in
the Black Hills. He returned to St. Paul in 1886, and is now
engaged in the real estate business there, being among the
pioneers in that line of work. He was a member of the city council
of St. Paul during 1889 and 1890, and was mayor of the city in
1891. In the earlier years Mr. Crew was active in establishing the
schools in his vicinity, and served on the district board.
Mrs. Crew died in St. Paul in 1895, survived by
her husband and a daughter, May, who married Chas. A. Robinson,
and now resides in Denver, Colo. In 1897 Mr. Crew was married the
second time, to Mrs. Clara E. Corliss. They have a beautiful home,
and are among the leading members of the social and educational
set in their community. Mr. Crew is a gentleman of far more than
the usual ability, a foremost member of the business life of his
region, and has been responsible in a large degree for the
prosperity enjoyed in his locality. He has always taken a leading
part in the political life of his county and state.

JARED PIERCE
FORD.

Jared P.
Ford, an energetic and enterprising young farmer and stockman of
Valley county, is known as a progressive and upright citizen,
interested in all that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of
the community. He was born at Bloomfield, Iowa, February 26, 1862,
sixth of the eight children of Ivan S. and Elizabeth (Fry) Ford,
who were patents of five sons and three daughters. When Jared Ford
was but six weeks old the family moved to Madison county, Iowa,
and he was reared on a farm there, receiving a common school
education. He lived on the home farm until the time of his
marriage, on Christmas day, 1886, to Minnie Cora Smith. After
their marriage they lived in Madison county, and March 1, 1887,
Mr. Ford and Mr. M. Conklin (a young married man), shipped their
household goods and some stock to Loup City, Sherman